Lessons of the Dunes

White Sands National Park is only one of the many reasons New Mexico is known as "The Land of Enchantment." White Sands is part of the Tularosa Basin and is 275 square miles of nothing but white sand. The sand dunes there are "living dunes" because the strong southwest winds continually blow, shifting the dunes from place to place. The dunes are constantly being pulled forward; sometimes in ripples, sometimes in domes, sometimes in hollows, but always moving, always advancing. Standing in the middle of 275 square miles of white sand is an experience that takes your breath away. Sand skims over the surface of the dunes changing their shapes. Walking across the sand leaves a trail of footprints that are immediately swept away; as if one was never there. Standing on the dunes watching the wind blow millions of grains of sand across the landscape makes the phrase “sands of time” very, very real and George Bernard Shaw’s words, “Write your sad times in sand; write your good times in stone” literally came to life.

The hour I spent walking the dunes was refreshing; not because the sand exfoliated my skin, but because there was so much to contemplate. I had the opportunity to think about life; about how change is certain; and like the sand, I will be pulled forward and reshaped because of my experiences. The landscape at White Sands is a journey. The dunes will always change and will never return to what they once were. The dunes are on a journey; always moving but without a known destination. Life, like the dunes, is a journey. Henry Miller wrote; “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” Christians are called to look at life with fresh eyes; eyes that are not blinded by the sands of life. I may not always know where I’m going, but God is always pulling me forward.

The wind is constant at White Sands. It is the life force of the dunes. As the winds blow and shift the dunes, the landscape that once was is forgotten. Standing there while the wind blew the sands, I thought about the importance of forgiveness; of letting go and moving forward. I thought about how true forgiveness releases us from what we once were and allows us to be reshaped. To say that the climate of White Sands is harsh is an understatement. There is no fresh water on the dunes. Plant and animal life has adapted over time and both have found a way to survive. Our relationships are much like the animal and plant life of White Sands; they evolve over time and we adapt in order to fully experience relationships with others. As I wandered the dunes, I thought about how God never promised that life would be without its deserts but if we are open and adaptable we always change and always move to a different place in our relationship with Him.

The lessons of the dunes were simple; I am different because of my experiences; life is a journey, forgiveness is important and my relationship with God and others evolve over time. Four simple lessons that are worthy of experiencing over and over again.

Copyright©2011 Judith Bell